Crown Prince Challenged Read Online Free PDF Page B

happened to Prince.”
    â€œWell,” Tim said, “let’s take a look.” Both riders dismounted, and Paige held their horses as Tim bent down to inspect Prince’s legs. “Here’s something,” he said, maneuvering to get a better look at Prince’s left front leg. “There’s a lot of dirt and gunk on there, so it’s hard to tell, but it looks like he’s bleeding on the inside of his left front.”
    Mrs. DeWitt and Sarah got closer to check out the injury. “I’d better hose him down now,” Sarah said. She raised an eyebrow. “So much for our first trail ride.” She led Prince into the barn and down the aisle to his stall to remove his tack. She checked her watch.
His lesson will be over soon, and Jack will want to hear about the ride,
she thought. She didn’t look forward to that conversation one bit.
He’ll probably be disappointed I fell off. At least when Gray Fox ran away with me, I managed to stay on! And stop him.
    Prince seemed glad to be back in his stall. As soon as Sarah had swapped his bridle for his halter, he went immediately to his water bucket. She let him drink a few swallows before removing it from the stall. He was still too hot to drink all he wanted. Prince had calmed down after his frantic run through the woods, and even though he was covered with sweat and in need of a bath, Sarah hugged his head and held him close. “Good boy,” she said softly as she caressed his white star and tugged his ears gently. “You had some bad luck. Birds, big birds….” His large dark eyes softened, and he lowered his head as she stroked him gently.
    All at once the seriousness of what had happened hit her. She envisioned Prince running wildly down the woods trail, riderless with his reins hanging loose. The story could have had a tragic ending. He could have gotten his legs tangled in the reins and taken a devastating fall. What if he had broken a leg and had to be put down? She pressed her face against his neck as the tears flowed freely.
    Finally Sarah raised her head. She needed to get it together and get her horse cleaned up so they could get a good look at the injured leg. This was Prince’s first injury since she had gotten him, and she was worried. What if it got infected?
    Sarah was unbuckling the girth on her saddle when Mrs. DeWitt came around the corner with Spin and Cameo. She was carrying a stable bandage, a quilted cotton wrap, a jar of antibiotic ointment, and a box of large gauze pads. “Sarah, I don’t suppose you have these in your collection of horsey things, and I suspect you’re going to need them. See what Jack says.”
    â€œOh, wow,” Sarah said, coming out of the stall. “And thanks so much for catching Prince.” She couldn’t resist leaning down to stroke the two small dogs as they jumped up on her in their eagerness to be petted. The terriers never failed to cheer her up. Cameo was not-quite-four-months old, but she was fast catching up to Spin in size.
    â€œHorse people always stick together, my dear,” Mrs. DeWitt said, with her usual warm smile. She put the items beside Sarah’s grooming caddy. “I’ve included a salve that prevents infection and really helps healing. It does wonders.” She saw the look of worry on Sarah’s face. “This appears to be a minor injury, Sarah. Your horse isn’t lame, and I suspect you’ll be riding him again in no time. But let me know if Jack thinks Prince needs the veterinarian. And now Medina and I are going to take these little beasts for the trail ride I promised them.” She started back to her mare’s stall with the dogs trotting behind.
    Sarah removed the saddle and led Crown Prince to the wash stall. Once he was clipped to the cross-ties, she turned on the hose and adjusted the water temperature. After letting cool water run over the dirty, bloody area on his leg, she took a